General Biology 1/2

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

Lesson 6.3

Newton’s First Law of

Motion

General Physics 1/2

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Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
In the lesson that follows, we will find out
exactly how another great mind, Sir Isaac
Newton, has kept the ball rolling.

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 Learning Competencies
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

● Define inertial frames of reference

(STEM_GP12N-ld28).

● Apply Newton’s 1st Law to obtain qualitative

and quantitative conclusions about the
contact and non-contact forces acting on a
body in equilibrium (STEM_GP12N-le33).

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 Learning Competencies
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

● Solve problems using Newton’s Laws of Motion

in contexts such as, but not limited to, ropes
and pulleys, the design of mobile sculptures,
transport of loads on conveyor belts, force
needed to move stalled vehicles, and
determination of safe driving speeds on
banked curved roads (STEM_GP12N-le38).

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 Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

● Explain the concept of inertial reference frame.

● Apply the law of inertia to describe the forces

exerted on an object in equilibrium.

● Solve problems related to the law of inertia.

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 The First Law of Motion

● Consider a book being slid by a horizontal force across

a horizontal, rough tabletop.
● After it has been released, the book will slow down and
eventually stop.

What force stopped the book?

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 The First Law of Motion

● What if you slide the same book in a slab of ice. What is

the difference of the outcome when you slide a book in
a table?

● What if you slide the same book in a frictionless

surface with? What do you think will happen?

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 The First Law of Motion

First Law of Motion

When no net force is acting upon an object, it will remain

at rest, or it will move forward with a constant velocity,
such that no net force is required to sustain its motion.

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Remember

The first law of motion states that

“every object continues in its state of
rest, or of uniform velocity in a straight
line, as long as no net force acts on it.”

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 The First Law of Motion

● This tendency of objects to remain in motion is referred

to as inertia, which is also the reason why Newton’s
first law is also called the law of inertia.

● An inertial frame of reference is a perspective

considered to identify whether an object is at rest, or is
moving with a constant velocity.

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Remember

Any object viewed from an inertial

frame of reference will obey the first law
and continue to have a constant
velocity, unless acted upon by a
nonzero net force.

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 Superposition of Forces

Mathematically, in one dimension,

In two dimensions,

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 Superposition of Forces

The magnitude of the resultant vector in 2D can be solved

using the Pythagorean theorem.

The direction (angle) can be solved using the tangent

function.

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Remember

The angle θ may be found in any of the

four quadrants and Rx and Ry may be
positive, negative, or zero. Be mindful of
the signs when dealing with each
component.

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Superposition of Forces

Now, let’s consider a laptop on the table.

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Superposition of Forces

What are the forces that act on it?

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 Superposition of Forces

Considering superposition of forces:

No net force acts on an object at rest. We say that

the object is in equilibrium.
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Remember

For an object to be in equilibrium, either

no force must act upon it, or the
resultant of the individual forces
exerted upon it must have a net force of
zero.

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What does the first law of
motion state?

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 Newton’s Second Law of Motion

The magnitude of
acceleration (a) is directly
proportional to the
magnitude of the net
external force (ΣF) exerted
on an object of a given mass
(m).

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Remember

Oftentimes, the concept of external

force is easy to identify intuitively;
sometimes, however, it is not very
obvious. Remember that in identifying
the external forces acting upon an
object, it is necessary to first determine
the system of interest and its
boundaries.
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 Force and Mass

The direct proportionality between acceleration and

net force leads us to a crucial inference: there is a
constant ratio, specifically referred to as inertial mass
(m) between the net force (ΣF) and, the acceleration’s
magnitude (a).

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Force and Mass

Relations between force, mass, and acceleration

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 Force, Mass and Acceleration

The relationship between (m) between the net force

(ΣF) and, the acceleration’s magnitude (a) can be
mathematically expressed as:

or
or

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Remember

Kilogram is the SI unit of mass. This

standard kilogram is also the basis for
the definition of newton as the amount
of net force yielding an acceleration of 1
m/s2 to an object with a 1-kilogram
mass or 1 N = 1 m/s2.

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 The Second Law of Motion

If a net external force acts on an object, acceleration

occurs. The direction of which is similar to that of the
net external force. The net force vector (ΣF) is the
product of the body’s inertial mass (m) and the
acceleration vector (a).

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 Let’s Practice!

What net external force must be applied to make a

vehicle accelerate at 2.5 m/s2 if it has a mass of 3 250
kg?

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 Let’s Practice!

What net external force must be applied to make a

vehicle accelerate at 2.5 m/s2 if it has a mass of 3 250
kg?

The net external force ΣF needed to accelerate the car

is 8 125 N.
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Try It!

What net force is required to make an

11.5-kg bowling ball to accelerate down
along an alleyway at a rate of 3.75 m/s2?

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 Let’s Practice!

A net external force of 7.5 N is exerted upon a 4.65-kg

object. If the object’s initial velocity is 2.3 m/s when
the force is applied, determine its displacement after
6 seconds.

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 Let’s Practice!

A net external force of 7.5 N is exerted upon a 4.65-kg

object. If the object’s initial velocity is 2.3 m/s when
the force is applied, determine its displacement after
6 seconds.

The displacement of the object after 6 seconds is 42.78

m.
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Try It!

A net external force of 8.35 N is exerted

upon a 5.5-kg object. If the object’s
initial velocity is 7 m/s when the force is
applied, determine its displacement
after 9.0 seconds.

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 The Third Law of Motion

● Force is the result of

interaction between two
objects.

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 The Third Law of Motion

● The force exerted by an object

A upon another object B is
always equal in magnitude
and acts in the opposite
direction to the force exerted
by object B to object A.

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 The Third Law of Motion

Newton’s Third Law of Motion states that if an object A

applies a force on object B (FA on B), object B applies a
force on object A (FA on B), such that the two forces
comprise a respective action and reaction pair. These
two forces are of equal magnitudes but of opposite
directions.

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 The Third Law of Motion

Newton’s Third Law is mathematically expressed as:

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What does Newton’s Third Law
state?

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 Applications of the Third Law of Motion

● Any given pair of objects that obey the Third Law of

Motion is considered an action-and-reaction pair.

● It is applicable for both contact and non-contact

forces.

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Applications of the Third Law of Motion

Objects at rest Objects in motion

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 Applications of the Third Law of Motion

Objects at rest
● there are two forces
acting on the apple, i.e.,
the gravitational force
exerted by the earth on it
(W), or, FEarth on apple and Ftable
on apple.

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Remember

The Third Law of Motion requires that

the two forces under consideration be
“acting on different objects” for them to
qualify as an action-and-reaction pair.

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 Applications of the Third Law of Motion

Action-Reaction Forces
● Gravitational force FEarth on
apple from the earth (Object

B) pulls the apple (Object

A) downward, the apple
exerts an upward pull on
the earth Fapple on Earth.

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 Applications of the Third Law of Motion

Action-Reaction Forces
● the table (Object B)
pushes up on the apple
(Object A) with force Ftable
on apple , and yields a
corresponding downward
reaction force from Fapple on
table .
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Applications of the Third Law of Motion

What will happen if we remove the table under the

apple?

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 Applications of the Third Law of Motion

● Once the table has been

removed, the forces left will
have equal magnitudes and
opposite directions but will
be exerted on the same
object, i.e., the apple, thus
invalidating the principle of
action and reaction.

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What are the examples of
action-reaction forces acting on
an object at rest?

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 Applications of the Third Law of Motion

Objects in motion
● Let B signify the block, R,
the rope, and M, the
mason.
● Two action-and-reaction
pairs may be gathered
from this scenario.

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 Applications of the Third Law of Motion

Objects in motion
● Observe how the two
forces in each scenario
correspond to an action
and reaction behavior,
such that:

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How do we determine an action-
and-reaction pair?

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 Let’s Practice!

A 0.020-kilogram block of wood with a constant

velocity slides on a rough horizontal tabletop. If
there is an external force of 2.50 newtons exerted
upon the block of wood, calculate the magnitude of
the friction force acting on it.

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 Let’s Practice!

A 0.020-kilogram block of wood with a constant

velocity slides on a rough horizontal tabletop. If
there is an external force of 2.50 newtons exerted
upon the block of wood, calculate the magnitude of
the friction force acting on it.

The magnitude of the friction force acting on the

block of wood is 2.50 N.
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Try It!

A book that weighs .050 kg has been

pushed at a constant velocity across the
floor. If there is an external force of 1.75
newtons exerted upon the book,
calculate the magnitude of the friction
force acting on it.

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 Let’s Practice!

A 180-pound cargo is found inside a freight elevator

that heads upward at a constant velocity. The rope of
the elevator snapped which caused it to fall.
Determine the (a) weight of the cargo in N, and (b)
the normal force exerted by the elevator’s floor to
the cargo before and after the rope broke off.

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 Let’s Practice!

A 180-pound cargo is found inside a freight elevator

that heads upward at a constant velocity. The rope of
the elevator snapped which caused it to fall.
Determine the (a) weight of the cargo in N, and (b)
the normal force exerted by the elevator’s floor to
the cargo before and after the rope broke off.

The weight (W) of the cargo in newtons is 800 N. The

normal force acting on it, by virtue of the law of
inertia is also 800 N. After the elevator rope broke,
the normal force became 0 N.
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Try It!

Calculate the (a) weight of the cargo in

N, and (b) the normal force exerted by
the elevator’s floor to the cargo before
and after the rope broke off if the mass
of the cargo in the previous example is
changed to 215 lbs.

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 Let’s Practice!

A 250 lb metal slab needed to be moved up inside a

vehicle using a smooth inclined plane with the
following dimensions: l = 0.7 m, H = 0.3 m. What is the
magnitude of the force required to move the slab
with a constant velocity? Ignore the effects of
friction.

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 Let’s Practice!

A 250 lb metal slab needed to be moved up inside a

vehicle using a smooth inclined plane with the
following dimensions: l = 0.7 m, H = 0.3 m. What is the
magnitude of the force required to move the slab
with a constant velocity? Ignore the effects of
friction.

The magnitude of force required to move the slab up

the inclined plane is 478.29 N.
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Try It!

A 300 lb rock has to be moved up inside

a vehicle using a smooth inclined plane
with the following dimensions: l = 0.8 m,
H = 0.5 m. What is the magnitude of the
force required to move the slab?

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 Check Your Understanding

Identify whether each statement is true or false.

1. The first law of motion states that an object will

continue to be at rest or to move at a constant rate until
a net force acts on it.
2. An inertial frame of reference may be accelerating.
3. It is impossible for an object to have zero net force
when it is in motion.

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 Check Your Understanding

Answer the following questions.

A 50.0 kg athlete is suspended motionless from the end of

a light rope attached to the ceiling.

1. Draw a free-body diagram for the athlete.

2. Draw a free-body diagram for the rope.
3. Determine the athlete’s weight.

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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● The first law of motion states that “every object

continues in its state of rest, or of uniform velocity
in a straight line, as long as no net force acts on
it”.
● The tendency of objects to remain in motion is
referred to as inertia, which is also the reason
why Newton’s first law is also called the law of
inertia.
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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● An inertial frame of reference is a perspective

considered to identify whether an object is at rest,
or is moving with a constant velocity.
● Any object viewed from an inertial frame of
reference will obey the first law and continue to
have a constant velocity unless acted upon by a
nonzero net force.

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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● For an object to be in equilibrium, either no

force must act upon it, or the resultant of the
individual forces exerted upon it must have a net
force of zero.

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 Key Formulas

Concept Formula Description

Use this equation to

Superposition of
calculate the net force
Forces where
exerted on an object
● is the net force exerted
upon an object; when all the forces are
● is the vector sum/ found in a single
resultant of the individual dimension.
forces, and
● F is the individual force
acting on an object.
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 Key Formulas

Concept Formula Description

Use the Pythagorean

Superposition of
theorem to solve the
Forces where
net force exerted on
● R is the net force exerted
an object when the
upon an object;
individual forces are
● Rx is the summation of
located along the x-
forces along the x-axis, and
and y-axes.
● Ry is the summation of

forces along the y-axis.

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Challenge Yourself

Why is the Earth considered only an

approximate reference frame?

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Bibliography
Faughn, Jerry S. and Raymond A. Serway. Serway’s College Physics (7th ed). Singapore: Brooks/Cole,
2006.

Giancoli, Douglas C. Physics Principles with Applications (7th ed). USA: Pearson Education, 2014.

Macalalad, E. P. and Vergara, R. L. 2011. Exploring the Realms of Science: Physics. Valenzuela City: JO-ES
Publishing House, Inc.

Serway, Raymond A. and John W. Jewett, Jr. Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics (9th
ed). USA: Brooks/Cole, 2014.

Young, Hugh D., Roger A. Freedman, and A. Lewis Ford. Sears and Zemansky’s University Physics with
Modern Physics (13th ed). USA: Pearson Education, 2012.

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